Luggage carrier



April 7, 1925.

T. R. WILLWERSCHEID LUGGAGE CARRI ER Filed Nov'. 7, 1921 Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUGGAGE CARRIER.

Application filed November 7, 1921. Serial No. 513,259.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODOR R. VVILL- WERSCHEID, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Rama sey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in.

clamped at various points on the outer edge of the running board, so as to accommodate packages of all shapes and sizes.

Ordinary luggage carriers, as those of the extensible type, simply form a rail along the outer edge of the board, no means be ing provided, whereby the bundles may be held against bouncing from the running board.

In the present invention any number of devices may be arranged in rows, each device having its own fastening strap, whereby longarticles such as tent poles, rolls of canvas and the like, may be firmly strapped to the running board.

For a small single parcel, a single device may be used. A number of the devices may be carried in the tool box of the car, thus eliminating the necessity of carrying an un necessarily large device like some of those now in use.

A principal object of the invention, however, is to provide a cheap, durable and neatly appearing construction, for attaching the clamping screw to the bent bar.

In the manufacture of articles of this nature, neatness in appearance is of paramount importance, as well as avoiding costly processes in the course of manufacture, such as spot welding, riveting, or machining of parts.

To this end the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings form part of the specification, in which:

Figure 1, is a perspective view of the invention, shown applied to the running board of an automobile.

Figure 2, is an enlarged side view ofmy improved luggage carrier.

Figure 3, is a perspective view of the nut retaining member showing it in its folded position. 7

Figure 4, is a sectional view on line 4-4: of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the'blank for forming the nut retaining member, and,

I Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the nut retaining member in assembled relation.

In the drawings, A designates the running board of an automobile, and B my improved luggage carrier. The carrier consists preferably of a bar of channel iron,

bent downwardly and inwardly at right angles, thereby forming a cross member 1, a vertical member 2, vand an inwardly extending member 3. The channel of the bar is turned inwardly, the outer edge of the legs thereof, resting upon the upper surface of the running board, and the channel in the member 3 opening upward toward the cross member 1. Thus, the bartakes the shape of the letter 11', or, a rectangular hook, the hook member 3, having adjacent its outer end an opening 4, which is of a size to loosely receive the thumb or clamping screw 5. Threaded on the thumb screw is the nut 6, which is preferably of the squared variety, and lies in the channel of the-member 3, as is best shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The thickness of the nut is preferably somewhat less than, the depth of the-channel, thereby affording a clearance space 7, between the upper face of the nut and the edge of the legs of the channel. The thumb screw 5, is provided with the thumb piece 8, and a bearing plate or swivel washer 9, at. its inner end. I

The washer is formed with a ball socket For the purpose of confining the nut 6 in the channel of thenne'mb'er' 3,1 provide acasing, or, what maybe termed, a nut reitaining member '13, whichwill be so formed, "thirtfitmaybe .telescoped' over the end of the channel andfriction'ally slid-length wise a strap of metal, the blank of which is along rectangular'band 14, having transverse parallel bending 'lines 15," 16, 17' and '18, these bending lines being disposed in I the manner, to form three square areas or sections, namely a" center section a, and end -"sec"tions +1).-

lVhen the blank is bent at right'angles,

on these'bendinglines,'the squarep'late sec- V tions will take the positions shown inFigure V 3, the pla'te members Yi-b overlapping each -0 other,"so astocontact flatly, while the memjbEl a forms a top "wall parallel withfthe secti'ons'bb; thus forming arectangular collar which is constructed so as to be frictiona'lly' slid over the channel bar.

The band may be said to be wrappedaround the channel.

Each ofthe'square sections, as a and 6-6, have centrally, a bolthole 19, said holes being arranged to cause them to register when thejdeviceis in its folded position.

slid into position to bring its holes 19 into alinement with the opening 4 in'the channel, the thumb screw is then projected "through thealined openings, and the swivel 'capf 9 then attached, as described in the foregoing.

As shown in Figure 4, the nut 6,"fits with its parallel'sides between the outwardly diverging walls 20 0f the channel, whereby it is held against turning,

For the purpose of holding the nut against longitudinal movementin'the channel, and 'i'naintaining the central opening 19, in ver tical alinement with the thumb screw 5, I provide a pair of lugs 21, which may be bent downward along the bending line'22, into contact with the sides of the nut, as shown in Figure 6..

By this means, the opening 19, in the top screw. The casing fits sufficiently close around the channel, as to be frictiona'lly held thereon, to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and it conceals the nut from view,

thus rendering the device neat in appear-- ofthe'channel. This casingisiormed of shown in Figure 5, saidblank consisting of Inassernbling the parts, the casing is first plate a is held concentric with the'thunib' As shown in'Fi'gure 1, the device is placed on the running board so as to hook over the outer edge thereof, and is then firmly clamped-in place. The cross member extends inwardly across the board, and thus supplies (by =means of its innerring '23) a rigidfpointoi' attachment for-a strap.

Obviously, a number of the carriers may be arranged in a' row," whereby long packages may be fastened to the running board.

I claim: V

1. A luggage carrier for usein connection with running boards of automobiles, consisting o'f'a channel bar shaped to e'xtend transversely across the top, and around the outer edge of the running board to a point underneath the latter, the channel-ofthe bar facing said runnlng board, means carried by'said bar, at a point adjacent the inner and outer edges of the running board, for attaching a tie strap, a clamping screw projected through saidchannel bar at a point underneath said runningiboard and 'CllSpOSGd at right angles to the latter, a

nut threaded onsaid screw positioned within the channel ofsaid bar, and ametallic casing: frictionally surrounding said channel bar and loosely surrounding saidjscrew, to keep said nut positioned within the channel.

2. The combination with'the clamping means of a luggage carrier for use in connection with the running boards of automobiles, said clamping means including-a part having an upwardly opening recess extending underneath the running'board, a clamping screw" projected, loosely through" said part and extendingupwardtoward the -underside of the running board, and a" nut threaded on said screw and located in said recess, of a metal band having openings loosely receiving-said clamping screw and adapted to be bent transversely around said recessed part to cover said recess, and thereby conceal said nut from view.

3. The combination with the clamping means of a luggage carrier for use in connection with the running boards of automobiles, said clamping means including apart having an upwardly opening recess, extending underneath the running board,'a clamping screw projected loosely through said part and extending upward toward the underside of the running'board, and a nut threaded on said screw and locatedin said recess; of a long metal band, wrapped transversely around said recessed part and over said nut,

the band being sufliciently long to overlap at its ends when it is in wrapped position, and having openings to loosely receive said clamping screws, and a pair of lugs one on either side of said band, extending downward at a point immediately adjacent 0pposite sides of said nut.

4. A luggage carrier for running boards of automobiles, including a part having an upwardly opening recess, extending underneath the running board, a clamping screw projected loosely through said part and extending upward toward the underside of the running board, a nut threaded on said screw and located in said recess, a long metal band, wrapped transversely around said recessed part and over said nut, and having overlapping ends formed with registering openings through which the clamping screw is passed.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THEODOR R. WILLWERSCHEID. 

